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The New Teen Titans: Games
Harking back to the era when NEW TEEN TITANS was the best-selling monthly comic series comes this lost tale from legendary creators Marv Wolfman (CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS) and George Perez (FINAL CRISIS: LEGION OF THREE WORLDS) starring their fan-favorite characters just in time for the NEW TEEN TITANS 30th anniversary! Set in the 1980s during the height of New Teen Titans popularity, this standalone hardcover features a mysterious villain playing a deadly game with New York City as the gameboard - and the Teen Titans as the pieces! Like something out of a timecapsule, this never-before-seen epic is the New Teen Titans story from their original creators that never got told...until now! Twenty years in the making, TEEN TITANS: GAMES is a can't-miss for fans new and old.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published September 13, 2011
About the author
Marv Wolfman
2,296 books310 followersMarvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 29, 2011
It was great to see Marv Wolfman and George Perez back in the saddle again. The book has a tremendous amount of build up, but a completely ho-hum ending. A must read if you were a fan of the original book series.
August 21, 2012
I was soooooooooo looking forward to this graphic novel. The New Teen Titans from the 1980s was (and probably still is) my favorite comic book. It was what got me hooked into reading comics for decades to come. When I heard that original creators Marv Wolfman and George Perez were teaming up to do a graphic novel based on my favorite team (ever!), I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! Sadly, I was a bit disappointed.
The story "Games" was just average. It reads like your basic technological action movie. This was nowhere near the quality I would expect from such masters of their craft. Where were stories like the first ones involving Deathstroke, Trigon, Blackfire, Brother Blood, or Terra?
More disappointing than the plot was the membership of this particular New Teen Titans. Wolfman chose not to go with the original team that burst onto the scene in 1980; he chose to use the team with members from later years. In fact, it was probably one of the weakest memberships. Donna was no longer Wonder Girl, Wally had gone off as the Flash, Terra was already dead, Speedy had already left the team, and Raven was already in her white costume (instead of the original blue).
Most disappointing was the inclusion of Danny Chase. Bleh! Whoever thought this was a good character was sadly mistaken. He's like the annoying Agent Cody Banks of DC Comics...and that's *not* a compliment. According to Wikipedia, "Problematically, the character was often portrayed as an overly snide, egotistical brat. This quickly proved unpopular with most fans, and pro- and anti-Chase letters sparked heated debate in the letter column. Wolfman tried various ways to make the character more appealing to the Titans' fan base, including having him briefly disguised as the mysterious "Phantasm" during the Titans Hunt storyline. However, negative fan pressure was strong enough to write Danny out of the series." So why was he used in this story?
In addition to the awful choice of Danny Chase, Donna Troy's weird Troia (or whatever the heck her name was at the time) get-up and Gar Logan's mullet make their appearance as well.
Since the story was already set in the 1980s, Wolfman would have been wiser to use the original team-up that was so successful. On a related note, Wolfman goes out of his way to point out to readers that the story is set in the 1980s, but then he throws in an Internet reference. I wasn't even aware of the Internet until the mid to late 1990s.
Naturally, I loved the detailed art by George Perez but it was mired down in the lame story.
Overall, "Games" was a disappointment. I really think long-time fans of the original series deserved better.
The story "Games" was just average. It reads like your basic technological action movie. This was nowhere near the quality I would expect from such masters of their craft. Where were stories like the first ones involving Deathstroke, Trigon, Blackfire, Brother Blood, or Terra?
More disappointing than the plot was the membership of this particular New Teen Titans. Wolfman chose not to go with the original team that burst onto the scene in 1980; he chose to use the team with members from later years. In fact, it was probably one of the weakest memberships. Donna was no longer Wonder Girl, Wally had gone off as the Flash, Terra was already dead, Speedy had already left the team, and Raven was already in her white costume (instead of the original blue).
Most disappointing was the inclusion of Danny Chase. Bleh! Whoever thought this was a good character was sadly mistaken. He's like the annoying Agent Cody Banks of DC Comics...and that's *not* a compliment. According to Wikipedia, "Problematically, the character was often portrayed as an overly snide, egotistical brat. This quickly proved unpopular with most fans, and pro- and anti-Chase letters sparked heated debate in the letter column. Wolfman tried various ways to make the character more appealing to the Titans' fan base, including having him briefly disguised as the mysterious "Phantasm" during the Titans Hunt storyline. However, negative fan pressure was strong enough to write Danny out of the series." So why was he used in this story?
In addition to the awful choice of Danny Chase, Donna Troy's weird Troia (or whatever the heck her name was at the time) get-up and Gar Logan's mullet make their appearance as well.
Since the story was already set in the 1980s, Wolfman would have been wiser to use the original team-up that was so successful. On a related note, Wolfman goes out of his way to point out to readers that the story is set in the 1980s, but then he throws in an Internet reference. I wasn't even aware of the Internet until the mid to late 1990s.
Naturally, I loved the detailed art by George Perez but it was mired down in the lame story.
Overall, "Games" was a disappointment. I really think long-time fans of the original series deserved better.
April 30, 2018
Great craft on view from original New Teen Titans creative team Marv Wolfman and George Perez. Still, this is a big well-crafted superhero story, recommended if you are nuts for Perez and his details and character moments, like I am.
This is the only story in which I appreciated the young character Danny Chase. The Villains are worth reading closely here.
Mildly recommended.
This is the only story in which I appreciated the young character Danny Chase. The Villains are worth reading closely here.
Mildly recommended.
January 19, 2020
Jericho! I'm not up to you in the Wolfman run yet but i missed you
June 13, 2022
Esta graphic novel que demorou mais de 20 anos para ficar pronta é o canto do cisne da dupla criadora dos Novos Titãs, Marv Wolfman e George Pérez nessas suas criações. Eles retomam a cronologia da equipe no ponto onde a dupla deixou, em 1988, para apresentar o novo nêmese para o time de jovens heróis: o Mestre do Jogos. A graphic novel foi muito esperada no Brasil e só saiu após a conclusão da oleção lendas do Universo DC e com o anúncio dos derradeiros meses de vida de George Pérez. Com um primeiro ato arrasador, deixando um lastro de suspense em todos os movimentos, os Titãs e o mundo são ameaçados por esse novo adversário. O segundo ato são diversas batalhas com inimigos feitos para enredar e destruir cada um dos Novos Titãs, um inimigo versado em eliminar um titã em específico. No terceiro ato, o rastro de destruição é sentido com as baixas de Danny e Estelar e também com a explosão da Torre Titã. A revelação do nêmese acontece e é um tanto desanimadora. Contudo essa graphic novel possui uma qualidade de enredo e artística superior às últimas histórias da dupla e das narrativas que se seguiram com apenas Wolfman na batuta da equipe. Vale a pena para ter um novo gostinho do velho, ou seja, para os nostálgicos das boas e velhas histórias dos Novos Titãs.
June 27, 2018
Disappointing. I was hoping for a fun, nostalgic trip to the glory days of the 80's Teen Titans, and instead got a messy, nonsensical plot that focuses more on throw-away characters than the Titans themselves. Worse, the one Titan who gets the most attention is one of the most universally loathed characters in Titan lore (heck, in comics) -- the know-it-all, teenage super-spy Mary Sue character, Danny Chase. The story includes clumsy attempts to redeem his character, but ends up with him scene-stealing right up to the very end. I literally groaned and rolled my eyes while reading this, thinking of how much better this story would be with his character removed and more focus on the other Titans and their relationships. Some unnecessary deaths and bizarre levels of violence just add to the disappointment. The George Perez art is usually the saving grace, but even that is uneven; he can't seem to consistently draw the features of certain characters, like Jericho, and other characters seem to have plastered-on expressions that sometimes veers into "uncanny valley" territory.
February 1, 2012
This book was STUNNING!!! And it should be, since it took twenty years to get published. This graphic novel drives home how incredible the original series was and how defining it was to the comics medium and 80's comics especially. In the company of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, et. al. this series took the teenaged sidekicks of the DCU and not only made an engaging series out of their exploits, but made a series whose plot lines blew their adult counterparts' plots out of the water!!! "The New Teen Titans: Games" does this once again, and what's more it creates a jaw dropping plot that is completely self-contained. Except for the main characters and one other guest star, all the villains and background characters are unique creations. And yet, with villains and background characters we have never met and don't know the histories of, this graphic novel of less than two hundred pages made a resonant, relevant plot soar miles above anything else currently going on. Truly one of the best graphic novels I have read in the past several years. Hands DOWN!!!
November 20, 2011
This is a four star book that gets five stars just for nostalgia. I bought the original New Teen Titans by Wolfman and Perez off the drug store rack as an adolescent. Theses characters were formative for every comic geek my age, and to read this fresh new story, with the stunning art of Perez both retro and timeless, it was enough just to get the feel of what it was like to be twelve again. Wolfman does melodrama like no other, and he hasn't forgotten how to wrap soap opera and superheroes into a chaotic byzantine plot of terrorism and the price paid for security. Such overt morality plays dealing with current social issues was the bread and butter of bronze age comics, and while it is dated, it is also refreshing to read, at least once more. Great stuff.
March 6, 2024
I've had this one sitting around since its original release. I'm not sure why I never got around to reading it. That's now been rectified.
The interesting thing about this story is that it was completed decades after it was begun, so the creators decided to set it outside of the regular continuity. That turned out to be a benefit as I didn't have to worry about refreshing my memory about the status quo at a particular point in the team's history, I could just enjoy it for what it was.
The story weaves a web of intrigue, with strategists trying to outthink one another. It's plotted tightly and, between that and the strong character work, makes for a strong read. George Perez's art reflects the maturation that occurred in the passing years and is as strong as needed for the tale being told. Overall, a nostalgic gem.
The interesting thing about this story is that it was completed decades after it was begun, so the creators decided to set it outside of the regular continuity. That turned out to be a benefit as I didn't have to worry about refreshing my memory about the status quo at a particular point in the team's history, I could just enjoy it for what it was.
The story weaves a web of intrigue, with strategists trying to outthink one another. It's plotted tightly and, between that and the strong character work, makes for a strong read. George Perez's art reflects the maturation that occurred in the passing years and is as strong as needed for the tale being told. Overall, a nostalgic gem.
October 20, 2018
The plot was rather gimmicky compared to the epic story lines Marv Wolfman have concocted in the original run of the New Teen Titans, but the team of Marv and George Perez do not disappoint in delivering a nostalgic experience of reading their comic books back in the 80's. The attention to details and the insightful characterization are all there in this graphic novel. It has the epic feel of a feature film with fierce battle scenes, building tension and suspense, and deadly consequences. I especially enjoyed seeing Raven and Jericho being characterized by their creators once more, since they are iconic Teen Titans characters that later writers have failed to really get right. All in all, this is a belated gift from the glory days of DC Comics that can make the comic book readers of today read 'em and weep.
October 26, 2011
Always love Perez art. Suprisingly violent for a vintage look.
April 21, 2026
Habiendo definido de verdad el concepto de los "Teen Titans" en la década 80", sorprende saber que Marv Wolfman y George Pérez tenían pospuesto de aquellos años una propuesta argumental para los personajes que podía (y debía) desligarse de la continuidad pudiendo editarse en una línea de "novelas gráficas" que por aquel entonces ya estaban revolucionando DC cómics y el medio. JUEGOS completó su publicación más de dos décadas después de concebirse en un borrador de George Pérez que ha ido reformulándose sin poder descartar totalmente ciertas "señas" de querer emular a obras magnas de la época en su premisa y ambición más cruda y adulta del argumento. Y, ojo, que hablamos de los autores que idearon la trama del Contrato de Judas o las Crisis en Tierras Infinitas. Pero sí que no hace falta acudir al texto transcrito del primer borrador que apuntaba a un desenlace en el que a Nightwing se le achacaban las perturbadoras muertes de los antagonistas totales de la historia como ocurrió con su mentor en La Broma Asesina... JUEGOS nos descubre como una serie de devastadores y cruentos atentados están apuntado principalmente a los miembros de los TITANES y a sus familias y allegados. Convirtiéndoles en "jugadores" de una despiadada "partida" orquestada por un misterioso intelecto estratega al que se le había encargado plantear simulacros de situaciones de peligro y amenaza de nivel nacional. Todo en un plano teórico que ahora se pone a prueba a costa de vidas inocentes.
Aunque Wolfman y Pérez tratan de desligar todo lo posible la trama de la continuidad oficial de la cabecera homónima creo que es fácil concretar en qué punto podría darse la historia. Eso sí, el argumento termina enfatizando la personalidad más agresiva y brusca de alguno de nuestros héroes (nunca llegando a ese desenlace del primer tratamiento de guion), lo cual se solapa al hecho de que se presentan una serie de enemigos villanescos de los que apenas se puede concretar mucho más que sus habilidades y objetivo en los planes del "Maestro" del Juego. Todo lo cual está muy a la zaga de poner contra las cuerdas desde el primer encuentro a los héroes.
Como digo, Los Nuevos Titanes: JUEGOS, se siente muy desesperado por querer conectar con historias tan monumentales como la mentada Broma Asesina, El Retorno del Caballero Oscuro y, hasta si me apuráis, WATCHMEN. En su particular espolón de lo formulaico e idealista de la mayor producción de historias superheroícas de la compañía, donde los Titanes siempre han sido un gran exponente de esto mismo. Esta misma historia acaba recuperando ese status quo, dejando al final que JUEGOS sea una curiosidad anecdótica más que una pieza clave y recuperada de los autores del gran momento de plenitud de la formación de sidekicks reconvertidos en grandes héroes del Universo DC.
Aunque Wolfman y Pérez tratan de desligar todo lo posible la trama de la continuidad oficial de la cabecera homónima creo que es fácil concretar en qué punto podría darse la historia. Eso sí, el argumento termina enfatizando la personalidad más agresiva y brusca de alguno de nuestros héroes (nunca llegando a ese desenlace del primer tratamiento de guion), lo cual se solapa al hecho de que se presentan una serie de enemigos villanescos de los que apenas se puede concretar mucho más que sus habilidades y objetivo en los planes del "Maestro" del Juego. Todo lo cual está muy a la zaga de poner contra las cuerdas desde el primer encuentro a los héroes.
Como digo, Los Nuevos Titanes: JUEGOS, se siente muy desesperado por querer conectar con historias tan monumentales como la mentada Broma Asesina, El Retorno del Caballero Oscuro y, hasta si me apuráis, WATCHMEN. En su particular espolón de lo formulaico e idealista de la mayor producción de historias superheroícas de la compañía, donde los Titanes siempre han sido un gran exponente de esto mismo. Esta misma historia acaba recuperando ese status quo, dejando al final que JUEGOS sea una curiosidad anecdótica más que una pieza clave y recuperada de los autores del gran momento de plenitud de la formación de sidekicks reconvertidos en grandes héroes del Universo DC.
March 10, 2025
Después de haber ido leyendo, sin prisa y con alguna pausa, toda la etapa de Marv Wolfman al frente de los Titanes hasta llegar a "La Cacería de Titanes", justo antes de que la serie entrara en esa etapa "extrema" en la que cayeron muchas series en los 90 y que, según parece, dejó bastante que desear (aunque nunca llegó a verse completa por estos lares), he decidido cerrar la etapa leyendo "Juegos", la novela gráfica que en 1988 Wolfman y el dibujante más importante de la historia de la serie, el gran George Perez, comenzaron a escribir y dibujar incluyéndola en la continuidad de la serie pero que por razones de todo tipo se dejó de lado y no se recuperaría hasta 20 años después. "Juegos" es pues, por un lado, un loable ejercicio de nostalgia que retoma a algunos personajes que el tiempo iba a tratar terriblemente mal (véase Jericó o el pobre Danny Chase), y al estar libre de las ataduras de los cánones, puede sentirse como "la película de los Titanes que nunca existió". El guion es un poco simple y se nota que hay decisiones que no se aguantaban 20 años después (el volumen de ECC incluía un texto de Wolfman en el que repasaba el guion original y explicaba los cambios), pero es un cómic muy entretenido si te gustan los personajes y, madre del amor hermoso, George Perez prendido a fuego era un todopoderoso y daba gusto ver su trabajo. De hecho, viendo lo que ocurrió en la posterior "Cacería de titanes" casi que uno hubiera preferido que esta hubiera sido la historia canónica, y no al revés. ¿Por qué le dio en los 90 por desmontarlo todo en la series de superhéroes (Ben Reilly, Jean Paul Valley, Parallax, Doomsday...) y por qué a los lectores (no puedo negarlo) hasta cierto punto nos flipaba? ¿Sería por la ilusión del cambio? Lo admito, a veces no hay nada como volver al hogar.
February 9, 2021
I haven't read the New Teen Titans series up to the point that this story is supposed to tie in yet, so I was confused about a few details. Mainly the fact that Joey seemed to be a player with around six girlfriends. This was a far step from the pure soul that was introduced in volume 5. Aside from the first twelve TPBs, I read the issues that tied into A Lonely Place of Dying, where Dick Grayson finds out about Jason Todd's death and consequently fires Danny, so I was surprised to see him as part of the team. I also really disliked Danny in that particular scene so it was interesting to see him behave more than detestably in this story.
Otherwise, a decent but not particularly riveting story. The opening scenes with the Games players were quite boring, and there was a bit of a racist/sexist remark on Japanese women.
I liked the high stakes of the Titans being targeted and how this issue plays on the concept of the Titans regularly making enemies without any intention to.
Not a bad addition to the NTT series, but not as good as it could have been
Otherwise, a decent but not particularly riveting story. The opening scenes with the Games players were quite boring, and there was a bit of a racist/sexist remark on Japanese women.
I liked the high stakes of the Titans being targeted and how this issue plays on the concept of the Titans regularly making enemies without any intention to.
Not a bad addition to the NTT series, but not as good as it could have been
August 13, 2017
Veintitrés años de espera para que se concretara esta historia del equipo creativo compuesto por Marv Wolfman y George Pérez. Juegos es, por lo tanto, un cierre digno a su etapa en los Nuevos Titanes.
El villano de esta historia no es uno cualquiera y tiene un plan macabro del que, en momentos, no se ve que exista una salida posible. Habrán varias sorpresas en el camino y más de algún doloroso sacrificio.
Suspenso, acción, drama y una dinámica de los personajes como que no hubiera pasado el tiempo para Wolfman. En cuanto a Pérez, quien había realizado 70 páginas en su momento luego de las postergaciones a la publicación para retomar este trabajo tanto tiempo después, mantiene su calidad durante toda la historia. Conocen a los personajes como si fueran sus hijos y eso se nota.
Juegos es una historia principalmente para seguidores del trabajo de Wolfman y Pérez pero que de igual forma sirve como invitación a conocer a los Nuevos Titanes y buscar otras aventuras de este equipo.
El villano de esta historia no es uno cualquiera y tiene un plan macabro del que, en momentos, no se ve que exista una salida posible. Habrán varias sorpresas en el camino y más de algún doloroso sacrificio.
Suspenso, acción, drama y una dinámica de los personajes como que no hubiera pasado el tiempo para Wolfman. En cuanto a Pérez, quien había realizado 70 páginas en su momento luego de las postergaciones a la publicación para retomar este trabajo tanto tiempo después, mantiene su calidad durante toda la historia. Conocen a los personajes como si fueran sus hijos y eso se nota.
Juegos es una historia principalmente para seguidores del trabajo de Wolfman y Pérez pero que de igual forma sirve como invitación a conocer a los Nuevos Titanes y buscar otras aventuras de este equipo.
December 26, 2023
Set in the era of Nightwing's disco costume, Raven's white one, Donna's Troia identity, and Jericho and Danny Chase being on the team, this story took a long time to come out due to a number of behind the scenes issues.
CBI Agent King Faraday brings the Titans word of a new threat to New York: the enigmatic Gamemaster has decided that the government doesn't take threats seriously enough, so he/she/it is going to show them just how bad things can get. The Titans have been studied and prepared for, and it's a nasty fight with threats against the team and their loved ones from many directions at once.
By the amazing team of Wolfman and Perez, it's a great addition to the Titans' canon, although I think it's an out of continuity/Elseworlds kind of story.
A great read for fans of heroes, and of the Titans especially.
CBI Agent King Faraday brings the Titans word of a new threat to New York: the enigmatic Gamemaster has decided that the government doesn't take threats seriously enough, so he/she/it is going to show them just how bad things can get. The Titans have been studied and prepared for, and it's a nasty fight with threats against the team and their loved ones from many directions at once.
By the amazing team of Wolfman and Perez, it's a great addition to the Titans' canon, although I think it's an out of continuity/Elseworlds kind of story.
A great read for fans of heroes, and of the Titans especially.
March 7, 2024
not going to lie, i was hoping for more when i picked this up. maybe it's just because of the hype from before it was released (yes i'm aware i'm very behind on this lol), and my expectations from the previous works of Wolfman and Pérez that i've read, but there felt like a lot of build up for things to just sort of fizzle out at the end. in general, i think it was just really apparent that this was a project that was started and then abandoned for two decades, the potential was there, but the execution felt messy like it should have been streamlined again.
overall it was really nice to read a new story from this era of the titans - even if i did not miss danny's annoying face
overall it was really nice to read a new story from this era of the titans - even if i did not miss danny's annoying face
March 19, 2023
This is Apex superhero comics. Intricate plotting, clever characterization, spot on dialogue, and a visual tour de force in terms of narrative comics making. This is the kind of work that can only be created by two comics masters, at the top of their collaborative games, and the fact that it was completed in bursts over 20 years only adds to its narrative polish.
If you want to see everything that superhero comics are capable of, and especially if you want to celebrate the work of the late and great George Perez, this is one of the best ways to experience both.
If you want to see everything that superhero comics are capable of, and especially if you want to celebrate the work of the late and great George Perez, this is one of the best ways to experience both.
August 24, 2017
It turns out you really can go home again. This worked better than I hoped for. It's by no means a timeless classic, nor is it likely to be. However, it was a lot of fun. Mr. Perez in particular does an excellent job. If this particular line up is "your" Titans, then you will be glad to have picked this one up.
January 30, 2018
This stopped and started and started again project shows Marv Wolfman and George Perez at the top of their game on their signature project. Due to the nature of the creative process, the comic is a bit of a time capsule.
Good comics if a bit dated.
Good comics if a bit dated.
September 1, 2018
You can find my spoiler-free review here:
https://www.nerdinthenoke.com/2018/09...
https://www.nerdinthenoke.com/2018/09...
March 20, 2019
Fun read, glad to revisit the characters and these artists.
August 3, 2020
I love how raven now believes that’s she’s truly good and will do everything to help everyone. And I love raven and cyborg’s friendship!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2014
The New Teen Titans: Games is a story that has literally been over twenty years in the making. Back in the mid to late-1980's, Marv Wolfman and George Perez (two men who have since become major heavy-weights in the comics' industry) were working together on the comic book The New Teen Titans, when they had an idea for a cool story. Unfortunately, due to various issues at the time, their idea never came off the ground, other than some sample artwork and a basis for a tale that they assumed would never see the light of day.
Over the next twenty-some years, the two men flirted with bringing their story idea to fruition, but nothing came of it. They actually were close to making it happen in the mid-2000's, but once again things fell through for them. Finally, the past few years, they got the go-ahead to make their concept a reality. Thus, this graphic novel was born.
The story begins with a terrorist that is wreaking havoc around the world, and leaving calling-cards for Agent King Faraday, who works for a government intelligence agency similar to the CIA. Not knowing where else to turn, he uses his extensive files to find a way to contact the Titans and convince them to work for him in finding this nut.
As the Titans go about investigating, they find themselves matched against unusual enemies. Well, unusual in that each Titan faces an enemy that seems to be tailored specifically to fight him or her and him or her alone. From the leader in Nightwing/Dick Grayson on down, each one must wage a battle against an opponent who is relatively evenly matched in some way or by some power.
The Titans are at first overwhelmed, but quickly turn the tables, and find the true culprit, and it is a bit of a shocker. One wonders if the villain didn't choose the Titans specifically so that they WOULD lose, and indeed whether the villain wanted to lose.
This was a really fun bit of a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths throwback. Seeing these characters in their '80's clothes, hair styles, and vernacular was really neat. Even the characterization of the cast seemed to designed to have each one be exactly as they were twenty years ago, and not today. As you will see if you compare this and other comics then to those of today, any of these characters can be broadly the same, but different in little ways that add up.
I really loved the added walkthrough where Wolfman and Perez contrast the process of finally creating this tale, and show what changes were made, and where. After twenty-some years, something was going to change. Yet, the fact that the story and characters remained as much the same as they did, and that these two men were able to settle in seamlessly into this role and do these characters correctly, shows their immense talents.
The artwork was terrific. While it wasn't aesthetically pleasing in the way that other works of the time (Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Year One, Crisis on Infinite Earths) were, it didn't have to be. It had to evoke the feeling of the comics at the time, and this it did well.
If you are at all a fan of the comics of that period of the late '80's, or a fan of comics PERIOD, you will enjoy this book.
Highly Recommended.
Over the next twenty-some years, the two men flirted with bringing their story idea to fruition, but nothing came of it. They actually were close to making it happen in the mid-2000's, but once again things fell through for them. Finally, the past few years, they got the go-ahead to make their concept a reality. Thus, this graphic novel was born.
The story begins with a terrorist that is wreaking havoc around the world, and leaving calling-cards for Agent King Faraday, who works for a government intelligence agency similar to the CIA. Not knowing where else to turn, he uses his extensive files to find a way to contact the Titans and convince them to work for him in finding this nut.
As the Titans go about investigating, they find themselves matched against unusual enemies. Well, unusual in that each Titan faces an enemy that seems to be tailored specifically to fight him or her and him or her alone. From the leader in Nightwing/Dick Grayson on down, each one must wage a battle against an opponent who is relatively evenly matched in some way or by some power.
The Titans are at first overwhelmed, but quickly turn the tables, and find the true culprit, and it is a bit of a shocker. One wonders if the villain didn't choose the Titans specifically so that they WOULD lose, and indeed whether the villain wanted to lose.
This was a really fun bit of a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths throwback. Seeing these characters in their '80's clothes, hair styles, and vernacular was really neat. Even the characterization of the cast seemed to designed to have each one be exactly as they were twenty years ago, and not today. As you will see if you compare this and other comics then to those of today, any of these characters can be broadly the same, but different in little ways that add up.
I really loved the added walkthrough where Wolfman and Perez contrast the process of finally creating this tale, and show what changes were made, and where. After twenty-some years, something was going to change. Yet, the fact that the story and characters remained as much the same as they did, and that these two men were able to settle in seamlessly into this role and do these characters correctly, shows their immense talents.
The artwork was terrific. While it wasn't aesthetically pleasing in the way that other works of the time (Batman: The Long Halloween, Batman: Year One, Crisis on Infinite Earths) were, it didn't have to be. It had to evoke the feeling of the comics at the time, and this it did well.
If you are at all a fan of the comics of that period of the late '80's, or a fan of comics PERIOD, you will enjoy this book.
Highly Recommended.
November 21, 2012
I've said in previous reviews that Marv Wolfman and George Pérez's The New Teen Titans: The Terror of Trigon was the apotheosis of their run on The New Teen Titans. And I've also said that The New Teen Titans: Who Is Donna Troy?, from the tail end of Wolfman and Pérez's collaboration, was something of a letdown as a swan song. Well, The New Teen Titans: Games is the best of both worlds: A swan song for the Wolfman-Pérez collaboration on The New Teen Titans that also finds the creators at the top of their game, no pun intended.
Games was originally supposed to have come out towards the late 1980s, as an actual swan song for Wolfman and Pérez's teamwork, and Pérez even penciled a fair number of the pages thereof, but for a variety of reasons, no one ever completed it until a couple years ago. That's to The New Teen Titans: Games' benefit, as Wolfman and Pérez couldn't really have told this exact story circa 1987 or 1988, and now the end product functions in a DC Universe all its own as a more than worthy coda of the classic period of New Teen Titans stories. Featuring all the original New Teen Titans in their incarnations as of the original date Games was set to début, as well as cameos from several other favorite Teen Titans, Games' stakes are just as high as they were in The Terror of Trigon, and the action is just as heart-pounding, if not more so; the story overall is just as much a timeless one, fitting in just as well in 1987 as it does in a post-September 11th DC Universe.
Add to that entire mix that Games feels like an old-school New Teen Titans comic from Wolfman and Pérez's heyday. Meant quite literally as the New Teen Titans Story to End All New Teen Titans Stories, Games is rich in the characterization amidst the action that Wolfman and Pérez initially parlayed into The New Teen Titans as DC's best-selling title for many years, and it would in spirit fit in anywhere in Teen Titans continuity, at least were it kept separate from the rest of the DC Universe. (After all, the DC Universe changed in 25 years, even if the basics of Games didn't.) Were all mainstream superhero comics published in the 2010s like this, I could see myself regularly reading them.
Games was originally supposed to have come out towards the late 1980s, as an actual swan song for Wolfman and Pérez's teamwork, and Pérez even penciled a fair number of the pages thereof, but for a variety of reasons, no one ever completed it until a couple years ago. That's to The New Teen Titans: Games' benefit, as Wolfman and Pérez couldn't really have told this exact story circa 1987 or 1988, and now the end product functions in a DC Universe all its own as a more than worthy coda of the classic period of New Teen Titans stories. Featuring all the original New Teen Titans in their incarnations as of the original date Games was set to début, as well as cameos from several other favorite Teen Titans, Games' stakes are just as high as they were in The Terror of Trigon, and the action is just as heart-pounding, if not more so; the story overall is just as much a timeless one, fitting in just as well in 1987 as it does in a post-September 11th DC Universe.
Add to that entire mix that Games feels like an old-school New Teen Titans comic from Wolfman and Pérez's heyday. Meant quite literally as the New Teen Titans Story to End All New Teen Titans Stories, Games is rich in the characterization amidst the action that Wolfman and Pérez initially parlayed into The New Teen Titans as DC's best-selling title for many years, and it would in spirit fit in anywhere in Teen Titans continuity, at least were it kept separate from the rest of the DC Universe. (After all, the DC Universe changed in 25 years, even if the basics of Games didn't.) Were all mainstream superhero comics published in the 2010s like this, I could see myself regularly reading them.
February 9, 2012
While Games is undoubtedly visually beautiful and it's narrative well done for the most part, the fragmented construction of it over several decades make the conclusion stick out poorly. The conclusion, and in particular, the wrap-up and attempt to explain the Gamemaster's motives leave the reader confused.
I'll just give a quick background of me, the reader, for review based context. As a fan of the Teen Titans cartoon show I watched some years ago and my recent growing interest in comics (recently purchased serveral issues of Excalibur and the Omnibuses of the new & old Invincible Iron Man), I was considering purchasing the Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 1., but decided to go with Games as I thought it would provide a nice sampler for the series.
Without doubt the graphic novel is beautifully drawn, the panels are big, allowing for the artist to do plenty of work. Much like the original series, the colouring is well done, bright, and beautiful.
Despite the nature of the construction of stopping, starting, and restarting the story over two decades, the narrative still manages to be cohesive, each terrorist facing off one of the Titans and wrapping up for the final conflict. Since all of them are 'new', it allows for fans both old and new to be on the same ground. Even though the villains were well thought out, their names and powers playing off of video game references, I had an issue with Dungeon's fight.
However, the ending is really what stands out not because of a grand epic conclusion, but because even after a second reading, I was still left scratching my head trying to figure out what I missed to explain why the Gamemaster is the Gamemaster. In the end commentary, it's revealed that a lot of narrative explaining how the Gamemaster becomes the Gamemaster is cut, in part because of constraints of not wanting to fill the pages with large amounts of text and instead keep the text minimal. There are a few other reasons like not being able to go back as 70 or so pages had already been drawn.
This attempt to simplify the story so that it can be finally printed rather than polished properly leaves the reader confused and indifferent to the villain despite the authors attempt to make this an emotionally charged chapter for the the Teen Titans. Even with the amazing artwork and using a classic narrative structure, the lack of a proper ending greatly detracts from the story and makes it much less than what it could have been given all the invested time in it.
I'll just give a quick background of me, the reader, for review based context. As a fan of the Teen Titans cartoon show I watched some years ago and my recent growing interest in comics (recently purchased serveral issues of Excalibur and the Omnibuses of the new & old Invincible Iron Man), I was considering purchasing the Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 1., but decided to go with Games as I thought it would provide a nice sampler for the series.
Without doubt the graphic novel is beautifully drawn, the panels are big, allowing for the artist to do plenty of work. Much like the original series, the colouring is well done, bright, and beautiful.
Despite the nature of the construction of stopping, starting, and restarting the story over two decades, the narrative still manages to be cohesive, each terrorist facing off one of the Titans and wrapping up for the final conflict. Since all of them are 'new', it allows for fans both old and new to be on the same ground. Even though the villains were well thought out, their names and powers playing off of video game references, I had an issue with Dungeon's fight.
However, the ending is really what stands out not because of a grand epic conclusion, but because even after a second reading, I was still left scratching my head trying to figure out what I missed to explain why the Gamemaster is the Gamemaster. In the end commentary, it's revealed that a lot of narrative explaining how the Gamemaster becomes the Gamemaster is cut, in part because of constraints of not wanting to fill the pages with large amounts of text and instead keep the text minimal. There are a few other reasons like not being able to go back as 70 or so pages had already been drawn.
This attempt to simplify the story so that it can be finally printed rather than polished properly leaves the reader confused and indifferent to the villain despite the authors attempt to make this an emotionally charged chapter for the the Teen Titans. Even with the amazing artwork and using a classic narrative structure, the lack of a proper ending greatly detracts from the story and makes it much less than what it could have been given all the invested time in it.
February 18, 2017
I have held on to reading this until now. George Perez's artwork has always been one of my favorites. Games is a really solid graphic novel. It has some wonderful twists ad turns. I miss Marv Wolfman's characterizations of these characters. I felt that he always had the characters voices. I give this five stars strictly for the Perez artwork. He was firing on all cylinders when he drew this. He knew/knows how to tell the large story. Perez always made his artwork jump off the page too. One thing that I love about his artwork is that all the people in the books look unique from the main characters to the people in the background. So good story, great artwork. You won't ever read the Titans like this again.
November 25, 2020
It turns out you can go home again! And rather quickly at that. At least in the case of this graphic novel.
For the entirety of the 1980s, The New Teen Titans provided sustained excellence in terms of quality and instantly stood out on the newsstands from everything else (I still remember buying the second issue even though I only recognized Robin on the cover). There were three factors: dynamic, ornate artwork (George Perez and Romeo Tanghal), gripping plots and brewing subplots (Marv Wolfman and George Perez) and a cast of characters that became as distinct in their personalities as in the colorful costumes they wore while at work (the Titans). The series quickly outpaced most other comics in that it was character driven and guided by the deftest hands. All of those are present here.
What amazed me - not having revisited the books since I read them new in the 1980s - was how I was instantly "back there" in reading this graphic novel: picking up the interplay of the main characters, recognizing the supporting players without fail and recalling history with ease. That is a testamonial to the success of the series during its heyday. I'll not discuss what happened to the series and its characters in the decade that followed, although that knowledge brought a bittersweet tinge to my heart as I read Games (alas, Jericho and Raven).
The plot is a good one, set up to provide a great deal of action and surprises (including one with a supporting character that shocked me), although the big reveal at the end is telegraphed to the reader a bit early and the ending felt rushed after many pages of buildup. (An aside for continuity buffs: Games appears to have taken place right after the Lonely Place of Dying story when the series went by the name The New Titans). The artwork is off-the-charts wonderful, as George Perez recreated his 1980s style and it thrives in the larger format of this book (aided in large part by some glorious coloring). There are many scenes - Jericho at the Guggenheim Museum, Starfire above New York - where the art and colors come alive with detail.
This is one of those books that I have no doubt at all I will enjoy again someday.
For the entirety of the 1980s, The New Teen Titans provided sustained excellence in terms of quality and instantly stood out on the newsstands from everything else (I still remember buying the second issue even though I only recognized Robin on the cover). There were three factors: dynamic, ornate artwork (George Perez and Romeo Tanghal), gripping plots and brewing subplots (Marv Wolfman and George Perez) and a cast of characters that became as distinct in their personalities as in the colorful costumes they wore while at work (the Titans). The series quickly outpaced most other comics in that it was character driven and guided by the deftest hands. All of those are present here.
What amazed me - not having revisited the books since I read them new in the 1980s - was how I was instantly "back there" in reading this graphic novel: picking up the interplay of the main characters, recognizing the supporting players without fail and recalling history with ease. That is a testamonial to the success of the series during its heyday. I'll not discuss what happened to the series and its characters in the decade that followed, although that knowledge brought a bittersweet tinge to my heart as I read Games (alas, Jericho and Raven).
The plot is a good one, set up to provide a great deal of action and surprises (including one with a supporting character that shocked me), although the big reveal at the end is telegraphed to the reader a bit early and the ending felt rushed after many pages of buildup. (An aside for continuity buffs: Games appears to have taken place right after the Lonely Place of Dying story when the series went by the name The New Titans). The artwork is off-the-charts wonderful, as George Perez recreated his 1980s style and it thrives in the larger format of this book (aided in large part by some glorious coloring). There are many scenes - Jericho at the Guggenheim Museum, Starfire above New York - where the art and colors come alive with detail.
This is one of those books that I have no doubt at all I will enjoy again someday.
January 18, 2012
How many times do you hear comments like “this (fill in the name) was decades in the making”? In this instance, it is true. Many years ago, Marv Wolfman and George Perez rebooted a cancelled title called the Teen Titans. The outstanding combination of writing and art took the title all of the way to the top. Fans debated whether Teen Titans or the X-Men were the better title. At the time, Chris Claremont and John Byrne were on their legendary run on X-Men. Which title was better? For me it depended on which one I was reading when asked the question.
Like all good things, after a few years the Wolfman/Perez team split up. Perez went on to other books while Wolfman continued the title with other artists. Rumors soon emerged that the team was working on a graphic novel. With all of the other work they were doing, it would probably take a year. Maybe two. Now, twenty some years later the much anticipated graphic novel was published.
The duo managed to capture the flavor of their classic run. While it is not the best Titans story ever, it is very good. Perez’s art is still top notch. Even with the presence of two different inkers, it looks consistently excellent. Wolfman’s story is a good one. He brings King Faraday back into the mix with the mystery of a terrorist who is killing people and leaving riddles for Faraday. As the mystery grows and the death count rises, the Titans attempt to stop the insanity. The mystery is eventually solved.
The story sets up a new status quo for the Titans. Wolfman and Perez planted the seeds for future storylines that I would have liked to see continued. From the sounds of it, fans will have to be content with this one. It doesn’t look like the creators will be returning to follow it up.
As for me, this one will go into my box of Titans comics. At some point I plan on going back and re-reading the series with the first Wolfman/Perez issue. Even if we don’t get any more Titans stories from Marv and George, I want to thank them for all of the reading pleasure they have given to me. If I see them at a convention, I know I will be thanking them for their efforts.
Like all good things, after a few years the Wolfman/Perez team split up. Perez went on to other books while Wolfman continued the title with other artists. Rumors soon emerged that the team was working on a graphic novel. With all of the other work they were doing, it would probably take a year. Maybe two. Now, twenty some years later the much anticipated graphic novel was published.
The duo managed to capture the flavor of their classic run. While it is not the best Titans story ever, it is very good. Perez’s art is still top notch. Even with the presence of two different inkers, it looks consistently excellent. Wolfman’s story is a good one. He brings King Faraday back into the mix with the mystery of a terrorist who is killing people and leaving riddles for Faraday. As the mystery grows and the death count rises, the Titans attempt to stop the insanity. The mystery is eventually solved.
The story sets up a new status quo for the Titans. Wolfman and Perez planted the seeds for future storylines that I would have liked to see continued. From the sounds of it, fans will have to be content with this one. It doesn’t look like the creators will be returning to follow it up.
As for me, this one will go into my box of Titans comics. At some point I plan on going back and re-reading the series with the first Wolfman/Perez issue. Even if we don’t get any more Titans stories from Marv and George, I want to thank them for all of the reading pleasure they have given to me. If I see them at a convention, I know I will be thanking them for their efforts.
July 16, 2012
This stand alone graphic novel features the definitive New Teen Titans creative team, Marv Wolfman and George Perez, finishing a story they began two decades ago. A new foe called the Gamesmaster is playing on a board no one else can see, and his pieces and pawns have targeted the Titans... and their loved ones.
I've read a smattering of New Teen Titans over the years and have a fondness for several of the characters, though I've never been a completist nor particularly well versed in their continuity. With a stand alone story, which has been retooled from its original script to reflect the fact that it no longer has a companion ongoing series to match up with, I thought I'd be able to pick up enough as I went. Unfortunately that wasn't really the case. The gist of the current rosters' personalities and powers are conveyed, but not enough for completely new readers. On top of that several developments and plot points lose great impact if the reader isn't previously familiar with certain secondary characters (which I wasn't). Key information is convey so the story can be understood, but it ends up feeling flat. Add in a cliched premise and some unsurprising twists and the core of this comic was a bit disappointing.
Now on the plus side, nobody is better than Wolfman at capturing the essence of the New Teen Titans and their personalities and differences shine through. The Gamesmaster's various accomplices are interesting and the specific pairings and tactics used against the Titans fun to watch. The art is fantastic, both in Perez's usual masterful underlying pencils and the vibrant, detailed coloring that brings them to life.
While Games fell short of my expectations/hopes I was still glad to spend some time revisiting a great superhero team in one of their best incarnations. But I can't really recommend it to any but the most knowledgable Titans followers or diehard fans of Perez's art.
Call it 2.5 rounded up.
I've read a smattering of New Teen Titans over the years and have a fondness for several of the characters, though I've never been a completist nor particularly well versed in their continuity. With a stand alone story, which has been retooled from its original script to reflect the fact that it no longer has a companion ongoing series to match up with, I thought I'd be able to pick up enough as I went. Unfortunately that wasn't really the case. The gist of the current rosters' personalities and powers are conveyed, but not enough for completely new readers. On top of that several developments and plot points lose great impact if the reader isn't previously familiar with certain secondary characters (which I wasn't). Key information is convey so the story can be understood, but it ends up feeling flat. Add in a cliched premise and some unsurprising twists and the core of this comic was a bit disappointing.
Now on the plus side, nobody is better than Wolfman at capturing the essence of the New Teen Titans and their personalities and differences shine through. The Gamesmaster's various accomplices are interesting and the specific pairings and tactics used against the Titans fun to watch. The art is fantastic, both in Perez's usual masterful underlying pencils and the vibrant, detailed coloring that brings them to life.
While Games fell short of my expectations/hopes I was still glad to spend some time revisiting a great superhero team in one of their best incarnations. But I can't really recommend it to any but the most knowledgable Titans followers or diehard fans of Perez's art.
Call it 2.5 rounded up.
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